What are the differences between a constellation and a Galaxy?

Answer 1

A constellation is any one of the 88 areas into which the sky - or the celestial sphere - is divided. The term is also often used less formally to denote a group of stars visibly related to each other in a particular configuration or pattern.

Some well-known constellations contain striking and familiar patterns of bright stars. Examples are Ursa Major (containing the Big Dipper), Orion (containing a figure of a hunter), Leo (containing bright stars outlining the form of a lion) and Scorpius (a scorpion). Other constellations do not encompass any discernible star patterns, and contain only faint stars.

A galaxy is a huge gravitationally bound system of stars, interstellar gas and dust, plasma, and (possibly) unseen dark matter. Typical galaxies contain ten million to one trillion (107 to 1012) stars, all orbiting a common center of gravity. In addition to single stars and a tenuous interstellar medium, most galaxies contain a large number of multiple star systems and star clusters as well as various types of nebulae. Most galaxies are several thousand to several hundred thousand light years in diameter and are usually separated from one another by distances on the order of millions of light years.

Although theoretical dark matter appears to account for around 90% of the mass of most galaxies, the nature of these unseen components is not well understood. There is some evidence that supermassive black holes may exist at the center of many, if not all, galaxies.

Intergalactic space, the space between galaxies, is filled with a tenuous plasma with an average density less than one atom per cubic meter. There are probably more than a hundred billion (1011) galaxies in our observable universe

Answer 2

A galaxy is a natural collection of stars, nebulae, dust, etc. A constellation is just an area of the sky as seen from Earth, and the star which happen to lie in that direction. All of the stars which we see with the naked eye are in our own Galaxy, the Milky Way. These stars form the constellation patterns which we see. All the other galaxies lie beyond the Milky Way, so lie in constellations. Sagittarius is a constellation, so lies within the Milky Way Galaxy. It doesn't contain any galaxies because the central bulge of our own galaxy lies within Sagittarius and blocks our view. External galaxies are mostly seen in constellations away from the main band of the Milky Way, because again the gas and dust of the Milky Way blocks the view.

Answer 3

A constellation is a collection of stars that resemble a figure in a myth or story, where as a galaxy is a cluster of stars that may or may not be part of a constellation. Many stars found in constellations are in different galaxies.

Answer 4

the milky way is a galaxy and has hundreds of BILLIONS of stars

a constellation only has a handful and they are visible on earth and make some pattern that is easy to remmember, like th eBig dipper

there are about 2 trillion stars in the universe per person on earth, stars are a dime a dozen....people are rare


see The Privileged Planet the DVD for an interesting look at astronmy or also
Taking Back Astornomy by Jason Lysle

Answer 5

Constellations are stars within a galaxy. They are just "drawings" that people long ago imagined certain groups of stars looked like. Galaxies have billions and billions of stars. They are used mainly to know which part of the sky you are looking at since the stars move very slowly from our point of view.

Answer 6

A constellation is a group of stars that forms a picture in the sky.

A galaxy is a cluster of billions of stars that orbit around a central point, theorized to be a super blackhole.

Answer 7

A constellation is a formation of Stars which humans grouped together so it was easy to find , A galaxy is a hell of alot of stars, grouped together by gravity. They can be 1000's of light years in size. There are different types of galaxies, from spiral galaxies to lenticular to irregular to elliptical galaxies. It takes over 25,700 years for our Galaxy, the Milky Way, to make 1 revolution..

Answer 8

A constellation is just an imaginary shape formed by stars according to tradition and astrology and such.
A galaxy is a scientific term for a large group of stars and whatever else is floating around between them.

Answer 9

A galaxy is the collection of all the stars orbiting a central point.

A constellation (or asterism...) is a collection of stars forming a pattern to an observer in a particular location (like, on the earth).

Answer 10

CONSTELLATION: A GROUP OF STARS (OR FAR DISTANT GALAXIES THAT APPEAR LIKE STARS, YOU WOULD NEED A POWERFUL TELESCOPE TO TELL THE THE DIFFERENCES) FORMING A RECOGNIZED PATTERN AND TYPICALLY NAMED AFTER A MYTHOLOGICAL OR OTHER FIGURE. EXAMPLES: LIBRA, CANCER, SAGITTARIUS ETC.

GALAXY: A SYSTEM OF BILLIONS OF STARS, TOGETHER WITH GAS AND DUST, HELD TOGETHER BY GRAVITATIONAL ATTRACTION

COUPLE OF LINES TO PUT THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE.

our star is known as SOL (commonly known as the sun), this star system is known as the SOLar system, our planet earth is a part of the solar system. our galaxy is known as the MILKY WAY, the shape of our galaxy is spiral (S shape) our solar system is close to the edge of one of the spirals. when i look up to the skies at night from earth i see familar shapes (constellations) like the URSA MAJOR (Big Dipper). the closest galaxy to ours is call ANDROMADA can also be seen in the sky but you need to know where to look.

if you are ever in the country away from city lights on a clear night. you will see what appears like a band of faint light right across the sky that is our own galaxy the MILKY WAY
it is a beautiful sight to behold.